A Blenheim-based clinical psychologist is questioning why Amazon, the online book selling giant, is denying him the right to submit an advertising campaign to promote his book.

Dr. Henry Svec said his book, ‘Don’t be a Wimp Raise a Strong Leader: Parenting Strategies from Conception to Late Adulthood,” has been deemed “inappropriate for all audiences” according to the reason given by Amazon about why his ad campaign is not being accepted.

However, the book has been available for purchase on Amazon’s website since 2016.

Svec, who has just released another book, said he wanted to advertise his current book as a test market, since he’s never used this service.

He posted Amazon’s reply on his blog, which states his book does not comply with its book ads creative acceptance policy, which states, in part: “To ensure a good customer experience, we reserve the right to restrict ads that contain elements that may not be appropriate for all audience. This may include erotica, content on sexual preference such as BDSM, incestuous relationships, sexual contact with person(s) under the age of 18 or self-help content (such as dating, get-rich-quick, or weight-loss books).”

Svec said his book doesn’t contain graphic material and is not a self-help book. He said it is a story about six Canadian leaders he interviewed to provide some recommendations parents can take to “raise a child who is responsible with strong leadership character.”

He also noted his new book, ‘Shrink Money Advice,’ was accepted for the same service at the same time this book was rejected, so being a self-help book is not the issue.

Svec, who works in Ontario and Michigan, believes the issue is about the word “wimp” or “conception” in the book’s title.

“I think there’s something wrong if you want children to be leaders and exceptional, that’s not politically correct today,” he said.

As for the issue of conception, Svec said, “If you don’t believe something happens at conception, you wouldn’t get pregnant and drink 26-ounces of vodka a day.”

Noting there’s some science behind the environment a person is born into, he said, “I’m just asking the question, I’m not getting into all the different arguments of . . . pregnancy or abortion.”

He suspects a “20-something-year-old employee simply executed the politically correct policies of this very large and successful book seller.